Ben McGinley: Interview Extract

When Celtic comes to Whitestone Park in 5 days time, Ben McGinley will be the subject of the ‘Big Interview’ in our match-day programme. Here, Neil Hobson gives you a brief extract from what to expect from ‘The Rovers’.

AFTER a stunning debut season with the club, goalkeeper Ben McGinley sat down with Neil Hobson to discuss Rovers, the coming season, and why tonight’s match against Celtic holds a special significance for him…
In the modern footballing world, it seems goalkeepers need to be older than a French vintage locked away in some dusty cellar to carry any real authority between the posts.

20-years-old is hardly an age one would associate with a standard goalkeeper, but, then again, Ben McGinley is radically different from your average shot stopper.
Swapping the U20s at Whitehill Welfare for first-team football at Whitestone Park was probably one of the biggest decisions McGinley made in his short career so far- and boy, was it a wise one.

Quickly grabbing the number 1 jersey for himself; young McGinley slotted into Ger Rossi’s team effortlessly and, after putting in some breath-taking performances, scooped the Player’s Player of the Year award at the clubs’ presentation night in his first season with the club- an accolade that Ben says he was delighted to win

“It really was a huge honour to be chosen by my teammates. Even though it was quite a tough season for us; what with us being a new team. There were some games we were under the cosh and I was kept busy!
“I was able to stay at the top of my game for the whole season and it was just a huge thrill to get an award at the end of it.”

For the full interview, buy a copy of ‘The Rovers’ official match-day programme for £2 on Tuesday August 1 at the Rovers-Celtic game. On sale around the ground before kick-off.